Glencore to close West Wallsend underground coal mine

Mining at Glencore’s West Wallsend underground coal operation will finish next year according to the company.

The decision is consistent with West Wallsend’s life of mine planning. Thought had been given to a number of potential options to extend the mine’s life but a combination of factors, particularly coal market and economic conditions, do not support continued operations.

The closure will occur some months earlier than originally scheduled, following Glencore’s decision not to mine an approved longwall block beneath cliff lines, terraces and steeper sections of the Sugarloaf State Conservation Area (SSCA).

As a result, development work at the mine will be completed by the end of June this year, with all mining to end in mid-2016.

Support services will be put in place to assist employees, including redeployment options across Glencore’s Australian coal operations.